Unequal by Design
Women are more likely than men to be exposed to artificial intelligence in their jobs, with 71% of women in Quebec facing AI exposure compared to 49% of men. This disparity reflects long-standing structural inequalities in labor markets and education systems that predate AI technologies. International studies from the IMF, ILO, OECD, and others confirm that women are overrepresented in high-exposure occupations and face greater risks of job disruption.
- ▪Women in Quebec had a 71% AI exposure rate in their jobs compared to 49% for men, according to February 2026 data from the Institut de la statistique du Quebec.
- ▪The IMF, ILO, OECD, and UNC Kenan Institute have all found that women are overrepresented in occupations with high exposure to AI-driven automation and task transformation.
- ▪In high-income countries, 9.6% of female employment is in the highest-risk category for AI-driven automation, nearly three times the 3.5% rate for men.
- ▪The OECD reported that while overall AI exposure is similar for men and women, the nature of exposure differs, with women more likely to face displacement rather than augmentation.
- ▪More women in the U.S. (58.87 million) than men (48.62 million) occupy roles in the 15 most AI-affected occupational categories, despite men outnumbering women in the total workforce.
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try { if(localStorage) { let currentUser = localStorage.getItem('current_user'); if (currentUser) { currentUser = JSON.parse(currentUser); if (currentUser.id === 2478211) { document.getElementById('article-show-container').classList.add('current-user-is-article-author'); } } } } catch (e) { console.error(e); } Tim Green Posted on Feb 23 • Originally published at smarterarticles.co.uk on May 17 Unequal by Design #humanintheloop #aigenderdisparity #womenworkforcedisruption #equitableaitransition The numbers arrived in February 2026, tucked inside a statistical bulletin from Quebec's Institut de la statistique, and they carried a weight that belied their tidy presentation.
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